Energy Transition Desk with Lisa Wood

Today's show is about flexible data centers. Simply delivering more energy to data centers — the fastest-growing source of new electricity demand in the US — isn't the solution. Emerald AI's Emerald Conductor platform dynamically interacts with local power grids to manage AI workloads: pausing work during grid stress, rerouting it elsewhere, and ramping back up when capacity frees up. 

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI, to discuss how Emerald AI is turning data centers into flexible grid assets by orchestrating real-time workloads and introducing power flexibility. Most of the data center conversation has been about the supply side — delivering more power, where and when data centers need it. Emerald AI is flipping that on its head and going after the demand side.

Lisa and Varun discuss: 

• Emerald Conductor and data center flexible load
• Grand bargain between data centers, the power grid, and customers
• Early product and customer demonstrations
• 100 GW potential for flexible load
• The two grids - power and AI
• Investors and commercial scaling
• The power of conviction
• Fun energy fact

Credits: 
Host and Executive Producer, Lisa Wood
Associate Producer, Adam Cooper

Episode recorded: September, 2026
Find us at:  https://podcast.energytransitiondesk.com/

Today's show is about combining AI and energy data for precision energy forecasting and analytics solutions for utilities, power producers, and energy markets. Forecasting has been done for decades in the power sector. But between extreme weather, surging electricity demand, and wild price volatility, the need for very accurate forecasting models has never been greater.  

In this episode, Lisa sits down with Sean Kelly, Co-founder and CEO of Amperon, to discuss how Amperon’s AI-powered energy forecasting platform is changing the way energy gets forecasted and traded in today's rapidly changing energy landscape. Sean also reveals why he started the company; his first real customers; how Amperon hooked its first electric utility customers; the importance of strategic partners; and critical turning points for the company.  

Lisa and Sean discuss: 

• Why precision forecasting is essential today
• Early customers and pivots
• Discovering the importance of smart meter data  
• The role of AI at Amperon
• Critical turning points and challenges for Amperon
• Why strategic partners matter
• Venture capital, storytelling, and timing

Credits: 
Host and Executive Producer, Lisa Wood
Associate Producer, Adam Cooper

Episode recorded: September, 2026
Find us at:  https://podcast.energytransitiondesk.com/

Trailer